AMD Announces 7th Generation Desktop AMD A-Series processors and AM4

AMD today launches 7th Generation AMD A-Series desktop processors for system builders, the processors are based on Bristol Ridge, (not to confuse with ZEN) with Excavator CPU cores. AMD also launches this on socket AM4 meaning the motherboards and thus processors can be paired with DDR4 memory.

Summit Ridge is based up-on Excavator cores, depending on processor 2 or 4 CPU cores with up-to eight GPU cores. The AMD A-series APUs thus will have four Excavator cores and eight GCN graphics cores. The TDP will vary from 65W towards 35 Watt. AMD will release the APUs from top A12 range to bottom in the A6 range.

The APUs have improved throughput VP9, HEVC and H.265 support at low power playback. This platform will support DDR3 and DDR4 up-to 2400 MHz. The new AMD4 socket is intended for all CPU's from top to bottom, including the future ZEN based processors. The combo of today's announced 7th Gen processors will offer features like DDR4, PCI-Express Gen 3, USB 3.1 (gen2), NVMe and will support SATA Express.

“We are excited for the first consumer release of the AMD AM4 socket and the first integration of our 7th Generation AMD A-Series processors into desktop devices,” said Kevin Lensing, Corporate VP and general manager of Computing and Graphics at AMD. “At AMD, we are continually working to drive innovation that our customers want, including superior energy efficiency and the best streaming and graphics capabilities available.”

7th Generation AMD A-Series desktop processors also bring enhanced graphics capabilities, augmenting key video playback features supporting up to 4K Ultra HD in both the popular H.264 and new-and-improved H.265 formats.1 These devices will also feature AMD Radeon Graphics Core Next graphics, with full support for Microsoft DirectX 12. The AMD AM4 socket is a new unified socket infrastructure that provides compatibility between 7th Generation AMD A-Series processors and the upcoming high-performance “Zen” based AMD desktop CPU (codenamed “Summit Ridge”) and expected products beyond. Further details and information will be announced at a later date.

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#5331113 Posted on: 09/05/2016 03:11 PM
Boss, will these APU's/AM4 boards have HDMI2.0a/b or still 1.4?

CPC_RedDawn
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#5331126 Posted on: 09/05/2016 03:39 PM

Only 12 PCIe lanes???

So you technically can't run any modern high end GPU at 16x mode then....

thatguy91
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#5331137 Posted on: 09/05/2016 04:00 PM
The lack of PCI-E lanes isn't really an issue, the target is basic work station machines and HTPC. It's not as it you're going to plug in the upcoming AMD Vega or NVidia Volta into it. To be fair I have heard of people doing the equivalent with existing APUs' and Pentiums', but as I said, to be fair, they're idiots (if they're doing it seriously that is).

PrMinisterGR
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#5331160 Posted on: 09/05/2016 04:24 PM

Only 12 PCIe lanes???

So you technically can't run any modern high end GPU at 16x mode then....

That's not really an issue to be honest. The max that these lanes would be used would be a 4x PCIe SSD and a 8x GPU. This is GEN3, so bandwidth shouldn't be an issue at all. More impressive is that the Southbridge is completely integrated, I wonder if Zen does the same. If it does, it will be the first performance-minded mainstream CPU to do so, and it will probably cut down I/O latencies tremendously.

Bansaku
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#5331200 Posted on: 09/05/2016 05:44 PM
Wow, not too shabby! Looks like a great choice for HTPC and micro systems.

Undying
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#5331202 Posted on: 09/05/2016 05:47 PM
We are yet to see how much will APU graphics benefit from DDR4 memory.

Goose
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#5331249 Posted on: 09/05/2016 07:40 PM
Annnnnd now we just need someone to come up with a benchmark for madVR, and use it on each and every one of these …

nz3777
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#5331266 Posted on: 09/05/2016 08:45 PM
Bout time they came out with something! I wonder how they perform I read up-to 54% faster then previous gen Apu's.Price is also a big factor if they wanna be able to sell alot of them.I will be keeping my eye on this my kid needs a new build.

lookin forwards to seeing what these run like amd really seem to have something special
coming could even push intel too

That only raises latencies, since the chip itself will be limited in its communication with the CPU. For systems like that 12 lanes are actually fine. I can't imagine anyone sane going for a dual GPU setup with an APU.

LEEc337
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#5331309 Posted on: 09/05/2016 10:51 PM
It seems to be a bit of a taste for what's coming with zen Ill sit back wait and see how amds new approach works it's been a long time comin

PrMinisterGR
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#5331321 Posted on: 09/05/2016 11:06 PM

It seems to be a bit of a taste for what's coming with zen Ill sit back wait and see how amds new approach works it's been a long time comin

I find the integrated southbridge particularly intriguing. I'm not sure that Zen will have that though.

LEEc337
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#5331327 Posted on: 09/05/2016 11:14 PM
Can't see a reason why not, if it does reduce system latency it would be silly to bring a new idea like that just to drop it on the next round, they are moving towards a new way of thinking with hsa I wish em luck

blaugznis
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#5331417 Posted on: 09/06/2016 06:50 AM
Are these E type of processors with 35W realy for desktop PCs? Looks more like for Laptops.